General Trade School and School of Design

It all began with the vision of a school committed to Bauhaus ideals and the fortunate meeting of architect Hermann Baur, artist Hans Arp and graphic designer Armin Hofmann. The architecture was deliberately pared down, yet ambitious, putting the students front and centre. Freedom of movement and access to nature and art were meant to create a positive learning environment. Although this remained a lofty ideal, Hans Arp's biomorphic concrete stele “Column with Interchangeable Elements” in the schoolyard still enjoys cult status today. The same applies to the light-flooded, delicately folded Masonry Hall, probably the most beautiful concrete origami in the world. The School of Design not only set new standards in postwar architecture, but also in graphic design. This was largely down to Armin Hoffmann, who revolutionised visual design teaching in the 1960s, which gained the graphic design department worldwide renown. The concrete reliefs scattered throughout the grounds are his works.

For more information about Brutalist buildings in Basel, visit heartbrut.com